CBI tells SC: It failed to secure translation of Argentinean court order on Quattrocchi

New Delhi , Jan 15 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today informed the Supreme Court that it has failed to receive an official translation of the Argentinean court order in which an extradition plea for Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, accused in the Bofors kickback case, was rejected.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan headed apex court bench that even after putting in its best efforts, the CBI has failed to get the translated order.

The apex court has posted the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

On June 15, an Argentine lower court had rejected CBI’s appeal for the controversial businessman’s extradition stating that the agency’s request was not backed by ample judicial documents.

The El Dorado court in its ‘detailed order’ stated that India had to lose its case against Quattrocchi because it did not get “fresh arrest warrant” against him.

The court, which declared Quattrocchi’s detention as illegal, raised questions about the 1997 Interpol’s Red Corner Notice against him, which apparently was not valid in the absence of an arrest warrant.

Earlier, the court asked the CBI to pay Quattrocchi’s legal fees in Argentina . As per Argentinean law, such orders are issued if judge believes that the defendant did not have a case to answer.

On December 13, 2002, India failed to obtain Quattrocchi’s extradition from Malaysia after a court there dismissed India ’s plea due to insufficient evidence.

Quattrocchi is accused of cheating the Indian exchequer while brokering a deal for the purchase of Swedish-made Bofors field guns in 1987.

The then Rajiv Gandhi Government had signed the Rs 1,437 crore deal with AB Bofors in March 1986 for the supply of 400 Howitzer field guns for the Army on the condition that the parties would engage no middlemen.

After obtaining the contract, AB Bofors had alleged that it had paid a commission of Swedish Croner 50.46 million to Quattrocchi through arms supply agent AE Services Ltd. (ANI)